Trump says ICC sanctions aimed at defending Netanyahu and others

US President Donald Trump has said Washington’s sanctions on the International Criminal Court were intended to defend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others from prosecution, not himself. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio was explaining the rationale behind the sanctions, saying they were aimed at “bringing that court to heel”, Trump interrupted him and said: “Well, there is no information that they were after me. It could happen. But just so you know, but if he’s talking about it, that means that maybe ... he is not trying to defend me, he is trying to defend Bibi (Netanyahu) and various other people.” “There are many other people that shouldn’t be looked at that way. But there is no indication that I am one of them at this moment,” Trump said. Trump also said in July that the US campaign to dismantle the court was intended to defend Netanyahu and others from prosecution. He made the comments after Rubio told a cabinet meeting at Camp David that five countries had announced plans to quit the court since the United States launched a campaign earlier this month against what it says is a threat to US sovereignty. TRUMP on RUBIO: “He's not trying to defend me, he's trying to defend Bibi" https://t.co/B64Wlb1urp — Ahmed Eldin | أحمد الدين (@aseisfree) October 9, 2026